Long Beach Students Create Field of Honor

In continuing an initiative that has become a meaningful tradition, Long Beach Middle School seventh-graders built the fourth annual Field of Honor by planting American Flags throughout their school district.

While the patriotic tribute has been positioned on the lawn of the former administration building since the effort was introduced in 2011, this is only the second year the flags have been displayed outside all five schools. After assembling the flags on poles with ribbon, students placed them in the grounds at the six sites.

Each flag represents an individual who has served or is serving in branches of the military. Residents were invited to sponsor anyone they wanted to honor with one or more of the flags, which were available for a $30 donation. The flags will fly until Dec. 7. Proceeds will benefit veterans and active military families through scholarships and camp stipends.

Members of the Wood Club, National Junior Honor Society, Librarians, grounds crew and technology classes were all involved in organizing the flags, fields and directories. Students in the multimedia classes made use of the middle school’s new 3D printer to create a bald eagle finial for the Field of Honor plaque. This undertaking incorporated STEM components as students applied 3D modeling techniques to construct an object that complements the significant district- and community-wide endeavor.